Scam surge in California: AG Bonta warns residents of scam messages posing as urgent court notices demanding payment
Sacramento, California – A new warning from California’s top law enforcement official is drawing attention to a growing wave of scams designed to pressure people into paying money they do not owe. Attorney General Rob Bonta is urging residents to stay alert after reports surfaced of fraudulent messages posing as official court notices.
The scam typically arrives through a text message or email, crafted to look urgent and legitimate. Recipients are told they have an unpaid traffic or toll violation and are instructed to pay immediately or face legal consequences. The language often creates a sense of panic, pushing individuals to act quickly without verifying the claim.
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State officials emphasize that these messages are not real. Courts do not reach out by text, phone call, or email to request payments. Any message that includes a demand for money, a clickable link, or a QR code tied to a supposed court case should be treated with suspicion.
Bonta cautioned that scammers rely heavily on urgency and fear. By making the situation appear serious and time-sensitive, they attempt to override common sense.
Even messages that appear polished or official should not be trusted at face value. Instead, individuals are encouraged to independently verify any claim by contacting the court directly through official channels.
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Authorities advise against clicking links or scanning codes included in these messages, as doing so could expose personal or financial information. Anyone who receives such a message should delete it and report the incident to federal agencies such as the FBI or the Federal Trade Commission, as well as to the California Attorney General’s Office. Including details like the sender’s phone number and any listed website can help investigators track patterns and prevent further fraud.
For those who may have already interacted with a suspicious message, immediate steps are recommended. This includes securing financial accounts, monitoring for unusual activity, and disputing any unauthorized charges.
Officials also remind the public that legitimate court matters can be checked safely by visiting official court websites, accessing verified case portals, or calling courts directly using trusted contact information. Payments, when required, are handled through official systems or in person, not through unsolicited messages.
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The alert is part of a broader effort to combat increasingly sophisticated text-based scams, which have expanded beyond fake court notices to include toll charges, parking violations, and even delivery notifications. Authorities continue to stress that caution and verification remain the strongest defenses against these evolving schemes.
